Automatic fastening device



Nov. 1, 1932. w, RUST 1,886,123

AUTOMATIC FASTENING DEVICE Filed July 28,, 1928 IN VEN TOR.

r k %QM Patented Nov. 1, 1932 min: 1. near, or rmsnuaen, rmmvama AU'IOIA'I'IO ammo DEVICE Application fled July 88, 1988. Serial No. 898,010. v

M invention relates to automatic fastening evices of the tlyifie used for clothing bags, go f bags and the e.

. My invention has for one of its objects to I provide simple and efficient; means whereby the closing movements of automatic fasteners may occur without any obstruction to such movement by the entanglement of clothing or other fabrics carried y the devices provided with such fasteners.

A further object of my invention is to provide means carried by the sliders of automatic fasteners for clearing the path of movement of the slider and rows of fasteners whereby such relative movements are not obstructed.

A still further ob'ect of my invention is to prolong the life 0 automatic fasteners by reventing such damage as may be caused g fabric or other material becoming entangled therewith.

In the operation of automatic fastening devices such as are used in connection with olf bags, clothinglbags and the like, it may requently occur t at articles of clothing or ,5 other materials of fabric will project into .the path of closing movement of the rows offasteners and the slider for operating them.

Inasmuch as the slider may be 0 rated with some force, it may occur that t e fastening devices arepermanently damaged by their being bent or distorted because of their iiiability to close in proper sequence.

In order to prevent the damage to the fastening devices and to correspondingly pio long the life of these devices, I have provided means for insuring a clear path of movement during the closing operation of the fastening devices.

The usual slider is provided with a guard or shield which extends in advance of the slider and closely adjacent to the rows of fas-- Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of an article provided with fastening devices emboiil ying my invention;

g. 2 is a transverse sectional view-taken on l ne 2-2 of Fig. 1 i

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of 56 the guard;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a modification and ITig. 5 is a similar view of a further modification.

In the drawing, an article that is composed of leather or other suitable flexible material, ndicated at 1, such, for example, as a clothng bag, is provided with automatic fastening devices 2 in two rows. These devices may be of any usual or conventional kind that are arran ed to automatically interlock when broug t into proper relative position by means of a slider 3.

The slider 3, which may be stamped in suitable shape from sheet metal, comprises two bifurcated hollow portions 4 and 5 that extend at an angle to each other and respectively enc1ose the rows of fasteners. The slider 3 18 also (provided with a loop 6, to which is connecte a tab 7 by means of which the slider is actuated.

Secured to the inner or lower side of the slider is a guard member 8 that is somewhat elongated and is provided at its outer end with a portion 9 that is somewhat concave and spatulate in form which extends in ad- Vance of the slider 3 in the direction of its closing movement. The outer end portion 9 of the ard 8 is closely adjacent to the lower 86 side 0 the rows of fasteners and is of such width as to be substantially co-extensive with the rows of fasteners when they are in closed position.

In the modification of Fig. 4, the guard member is in the form of a relativel wide loop member 10 which operates to epress any articles of clothing or other fabricsthat may be adjacent to the fasteners 2 and thereby removin them from the path of the fasteners 2 an the slider 33.

The structure of Fig. 5 differs from that of-Fig. 4 only in that the guard member 11 differs in shape from that of the member 10.

In the operation of the fasteners, the slider B is actuated in the desired direction b the tab 7. When the fasteners are being 0 ose d, the slider operates u wardly, as v1ewed m Figs. 1 and 2 in the wing, the respective 5 rows of fasteners being brought mto locking 'tion by the bifurcated portions 4 and 5 o the slider... The guard member 8 precodes the slider}; andxby reason of itscurvature operates to clear the pathof any pro-o rtions of fabric or clothing that may tend to'be drawn into the slider y the fasteners. If the curved loop member 10 or 11 is used, it operates by depressing the. material to a greater depth-than would beeffected by the ard member 8. I

When the ider 3 is. actuated in the opposite direction to open the fasteners, the guard member Set the member 10 or 11, as the case ma be, simply slide over the various material s in order to be in position for the succlosin operation, there being little or no :elih 0 any of the materials mterfering with the opening operation since the fasteners are emergin from the slider and there is no tendency for them to be drawn into it.

It will be ap reciated that I have provided simple and e cient means for preventing damage either to the contents of a bag or other device emplo ing se arable fasteners or to the fastenin devices y reason of such materials bein rawn into the mechanism as it is being c osed. The guard member of m invention will materially prolong the all, of such fastening devices and, in addition, save the user of such devices from annoyance and expense in connection with such occurrences. d

Many modifications will occur to those sln'lled in the art relating to devices of this same neral character and my invention is,

there ore, not to be limited to the precise embodiments shown and described herein.

I claim as my invention 1. An automatic fastener comprising two rows of coacting members, supporting means therefor, a slider for controlling the connection of said members in accordance with its position and a ard comprising an elongated member carried by said slider and adjacent to and spaced from said rows of members 'for maintaining a free path for their relative movements, said guard being of such width as to extend directl beneath the rows of coacting members an positioned to force away obstructing material at the point of engagement and disengagement of the coacting members.

2. A closure device comprising two rows of separable interlocking fasteners, supportin means therefor and a slider having a guar which comprises a substantially rigid member secured to the lower side of said slider and of such width that it extends directly beneath the openrows of fasteners in advance of the porting said members, a slider for controllin tending in advance thereof and of such ing said members, a slider for contro said members, and a ard connected to an movable with said shder and of such width as to extend directly beneath said rows of coacting membersprecedin and adjacent the {)lIlCtlOll of said rows, sai guard at all times ing spaced from the members and positioned to force away obstructing material at the point of engagement and disenga ment of t e coactin members for preventing the obstruction 0 relative movements of said members and said slider.

4. An automatic fastener comprising two rows of interlocking members, means for sup porting said members, a slider for controlling said members and a guard com risin a member having a cam face carrie by said slider and rojecting' in advance thereof and of such widt as to extend directly beneath said row said guard member at all times being sp from the interlocking members and havixzgiits cam face positioned to force away obstru 'ng materials at the point of en gement and disengagement of said interloc g members.

5. An automatic fastener comprising two rows of interlocking members, means for suploo said members and a guard carried by sai slider for preceding said slider in its movement to close said members and of such width as to extend directly beneath said rows, said guard at all times being spaced from the members and positioned to force away obstructin material from the paths of movement 0 said interlocking members at the point of their engagement and disengagement.

6. A separable fastener comprlsmg' two rows of interlocking members, means for supporting said members, a slider, and an elongated member secured to said slider and exwidth as to extend directly beneath said rows, said elongated member at all times bein spaced from the interlocking members an positioned to shield the rows of members from obstructing material at the point of engage-ment and disengagement of said interlocking members.

7. A separable fastener comprisinginterlocking members mounted in two rows, means for supportin said members, a slider, and a guard member connected to and movable with said slider and of such width as to extend directly beneath said rows and also extending adjacent to the junction point of said rows, said guard member at all times being slightly spaced from the members in said rows and positioned to force away obstructing material at the oint of engagement-and disen agement of said interlocking members. 8. K closure device comprising two stringers, rows of interlocking elements secured to said stringers, and a'slider movable along said stringers for causing the interlocking elements to enga e with and disengage from each other, sai slider having a guard which comprises a substantially rigid member, secured to the lower side of said slider and of such width as to extend directly beneath said elements, as they en age with and disengage from each other, sai guard at all times being spaced fromthe elements and positioned to force away obstructing material at the point of engagement and disengagement of the elements.- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 25th day of July 1928.

WILLIAM F. RUST. 

